Short block linear synchronous motors and switching mechanisms

Abstract

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A transport system vehicle, the transport system having a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide, and a diverge region that comprises an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge region, wherein the flipper initiates switching of the vehicle direction at the diverge region by exerting a laterally directed force thereon, and where the extension effects switching of vehicle direction at the diverge region, the vehicle comprising:
 a magnetic flux source; and 
 a septum portion coupled to at least one body portion of the vehicle, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section with respect to the body portion, and wherein in operation the septum contacts the extension to effect switching of the vehicle direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of constituents each including a magnetic flux source and a septum portion. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of  claim 2 , comprising a platform coupled between the constituents. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the platform is pivotably coupled to at least one of the constituents. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a cross-section that is generally pointed oval. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of  claim 1 , comprising one or more surfaces that, in operation, contact a guidance surface of the guideway. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more surfaces, in operation, contact a guide surface of the diverge region. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more surfaces are configured to contact a flipper for switching the vehicle in the diverge. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of the at least one body portion, in operation, contacts a guidance surface of the guideway, and wherein the at least one surface comprises first and second regions for contacting respective first and second portions of the guideway. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first and second portions is curved. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first region contacts a first portion of the guideway in straight sections of the guideway, and the second region contacts the second portion of the guideway in curved sections of the guideway. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein one of the regions is a peripheral region having tangents that are parallel to tangents of adjacent surfaces of the guideway when the vehicle is disposed on a straight section of the guideway. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the regions is a peripheral region having tangents that are parallel to tangents of adjacent surfaces of the guideway when the vehicle is disposed on a curved section of the guideway. 
     
     
       15. A transport system vehicle, the transport system having a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide, and a diverge region, the vehicle comprising:
 a magnetic flux source; and 
 one or more pins extending from the vehicle that, in operation, contact a diverting member to control direction of motion of the vehicle in the diverge region. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pins extend from corners of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is configured to slide along the guideway. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the magnetic flux source comprises one or more permanent magnets. 
     
     
       19. A transport system vehicle, the transport system having a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide, and a diverge region, the vehicle comprising:
 a magnetic flux source; and 
 means for directing the vehicle in operation by contact with a diverting member to control direction of motion of the vehicle in the diverge region. 
 
     
     
       20. The vehicle of  claim 19 , comprising two constituents joined by a platform, and wherein each constituent comprises a means for directing the vehicle in operation by contact with the diverting member.